Labeling machines

Abstract

The labeling machine comprises a stationary label hopper, a rotatable turret provided with suction means located adjacent to the leading edge of the terminal label in the article and constructed to enter into the hopper to lift by vacuum the leading edge of the terminal label out of the hopper and then in coaction with a pressure roll to mechanically withdraw the remainder of the label from the hopper and insert such leading label edge into the entry end of a fixed label guideway. Located intermediate the ends of the guideway and clamping the label in the guideway therebetween are a feed roll and a pressure roll spaced from the turret a distance substantially less than the length of the label so that they clamp the label before it moves past the turret and its associated pressure roll. Positioned adjacent to the discharge end of said guideway is a rotatable glue roll onto which the label is directed as it is discharged from said guideway. The turret and its associated pressure roll, the feed roll and its associated pressure roll, and the glue roll each impart to the label during their mechanical feed thereof, a corresponding given linear velocity. Associated with the glue roll are means for transferring the label from the glue roll to a label applying station without diminishing the given linear velocity of the label. The transfer means may constitute spaced stationary guide plates having guide edges shaped to transfer the label directly to the applying station, or to a label applying drum constructed to carry the label to the applying station and attach it to an article at such station.

We claim: 
     
       1. In a labeling machine, a hopper for carrying a stack of labels, a label applying station, and means for successively and positively feeding labels from said hopper to said applying station comprising a rotatable turret provided with suction means located adjacent to the leading edge of the terminal label in said hopper and adapted to lift by vacuum such leading label edge out of said hopper and then to mechanically withdraw such label from the hopper, said turret having a curved outer surface of which a portion is stepped inwardly to provide a turret section of reduced radius, including a step adapted to fit around an edge of said hopper, there being vacuum ports located on said curved outer surface behind said step to lift the edge of the label, said turret being supported by means which urge said turret away from said hopper to permit rotation of said turret, said labeling machine further comprising a first guide means defining a given path of travel for the label, a first pressure roll cooperating with said turret to mechanically draw such label from the hopper and to advance the leading edge thereof into the entry end of said first guide means, a rotatable feed roll and a second pressure roll located to coactively engage the label intermediate the ends of its given path through said first guide means and prior to the release of the label by said turret and said first pressure roll, a rotatable glue roll located to receive the label on its peripheral surface as the label is discharged from said first guide means, said turret and its coacting first pressure roll, said feed roll and its coacting second pressure roll, and said glue roll each imparting to the label during their mechanical feed thereof, a corresponding given linear velocity, and means for transferring the glued label from said glue roll to said applying station without substantially diminishing such given linear velocity thereof. 
     
     
       2. In a labeling machine, a hopper for carrying a stack of labels, a label applying station, and means for successively and positively feeding labels from said hopper to said applying station comprising a rotatable turret provided with suction means located adjacent to the leading edge of the terminal label in said hopper and adapted to lift by vacuum such leading label edge out of said hopper and then to mechanically withdraw such label from the hopper, a first guide means defining a given path of travel for the label, a first pressure roll cooperating with said turret to mechanically draw such label from the hopper and to advance the leading edge thereof into the entry end of said first guide means, a rotatable feed roll and a second pressure roll located to coactively engage the label intermediate the ends of its given path through said first guide means and prior to the release of the label by said turret and said first pressure roll, a rotatable glue roll located to receive the label on its peripheral surface as the label is discharged from said first guide means, said turret and its coacting first pressure roll, said feed roll and its coacting second pressure roll, and said glue roll each imparting to the label during their mechanical feed thereof, a corresponding given linear velocity, and means for transferring the glued label from said glue roll to said applying station without substantially diminishing such given linear velocity thereof, and wherein said turret has a longitudinally extending plane and a relieved suction surface engageable with the leading edge of the terminal label in the hopper and a longitudinally extending curved driving surface engageable with said first pressure roll, said turret being intermittently operable to make one complete revolution during an interval less than that of one cycle of operation of the machine during which a label is fed from said hopper to said applying station; means for reciprocating said turret as a whole from a first position in which said plane suction surface of the turret engages the leading edge of the terminal label in said hopper, to a second position in which such leading label edge may be inserted into the entry end of said first guide means, said turret during said translatory movement initially lifting by suction at said plane surface thereof said leading label edge out of said hopper and then mechanically withdrawing such label from the hopper, means for rotating said turret after it has lifted the leading label edge clear of the hopper, and during its translatory movement, from zero rotational speed at said first position to a rotational speed such as to impart said given linear velocity to the label, said first pressure roll coacting with said driving surface of said rotating turret shortly after the leading label edge clears the hopper to mechanically complete the withdrawal of the label from the hopper and to insert the leading label end into the entry end of said first guide means, said turret rotating means completing the rotation of said turret after such entry of the leading label end into said first guide means and while said turret is in said second position to position said plane suction surface at zero velocity in spaced opposed relation to the succeeding terminal label in the hopper. 
     
     
       3. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 2, in which the leading longitudinal edge of said curved turret driving surface adjoins the trailing longitudinal edge of said plane suction surface of the turret, means connecting a first longitudinal row of suction holes in said plane suction surface to a source of suction, means connecting a second longitudinal row of suction holes located in said driving surface adjacent to said leading longitudinal edge thereof to a source of suction, means including valve means controlled by an article to be labeled moving toward said applying station to connect said first row of holes to said source of suction, said valve means being operative to connect said second row of holes to said second suction when they come into tangency with the terminal label being withdrawn from the hopper, and to disconnect said first and second rows of holes from said source of suction when the turret has rotated to bring them adjacent to said first pressure roll. 
     
     
       4. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 2, in which a second relieved longitudinally extending surface is provided on said turret intermediate said plane relieved suction surface and said curved driving surface, said second relieved surface trailing said driving surface in each revolution of the turret and rendering said turret inoperative to drive the label when it opposes said first pressure roll, the leading edge of said second relieved surface moving into opposed relation with said first pressure roll after said turret driving surface and said first pressure roll have advanced the label between said feed roll and said second pressure roll. 
     
     
       5. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 1, in which said first guide means comprises a plurality of spaced plates defining therebetween a label passage extending between and having its entry and discharge ends adjacent to said turret and said glue roll, respectively, said feed roll and said second pressure roll extending into such passage to clamp the label therebetween, and a tension member mounted on the discharge end of said first guide means adapted to direct a discharging label into substantially tangential contact with the periphery of said glue roll. 
     
     
       6. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 1, in which said transfer means comprises second guide means associated with said glue roll and adapted to progressively remove the label from said glue roll and direct it in a given direction away from said glue roll. 
     
     
       7. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 6, in which said glue roll has provided in its exterior surface a plurality of annular gooves, and in which said second guide means comprises a plurality of stationary guide members disposed at right angles to the rotational axis of said glue roll and having inner edges located in said annular grooves, said guide members having guiding edges extending from within said grooves and shaped to direct a label in said given direction away from said glue roll. 
     
     
       8. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 7, including a pressure belt having one end located at said applying station, the guiding edges of said stationary guide members constituting said second guide means forming with said one end of said pressure belt a curved passageway for the label being fed to said applying station. 
     
     
       9. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 1, in which said transfer means includes a label applying drum positioned between said glue roll and said applying station and having a peripheral speed matching the peripheral speed of said glue roll, and second guide means adapted to direct a label from said glue roll into substantially tangential contact with said label applying drum, said label applying drum having means for gripping a label thereto and for delivering the label onto an article, and means for feeding the article to said labeling station and past said label applying drum at a lineal speed matching the peripheral speed of said label applying drum. 
     
     
       10. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 9, in which said label applying drum means for gripping a label thereto and for delivering the label onto an article, comprises a gripper pad fixed to said drum so that its outer label receiving end passes adjacent to the discharge end of said second guide means in the rotational movement of said drum, a movable gripper finger operable to coact with said gripper pad to grip the advancing end of a label fed therebetween by said second guide means and to carry the label to said applying station, and a resiliently covered applying member on said drum in following relation to said gripper pad and finger for applying the label to the article. 
     
     
       11. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 9, in which said means on said label applying drum for gripping a label and for delivering the label to an article comprises in leading relation means to releasably attach the leading edge of a label to said label applying drum, and in following relation resilient applying means for applying the label to the article. 
     
     
       12. In a labeling machine as defined in claim 1, in which said first guide means includes an adjustable member located adjacent to said glue roll and adapted to feed the label to the glue applying surface of said glue roll at a pressure appropriate for proper glueing of the label.